In the build-up to the T20 World Cup, England strategically rested their captain Heather Knight during a T20I match against New Zealand. The team’s management wanted to be prepared for a scenario where Knight’s availability might be compromised. Now, Pakistan finds itself navigating a similar situation, as their captain, Fatima Sana, has had to leave the UAE abruptly following the passing of her father.
Fatima Sana has been a shining light in Pakistan’s inconsistent T20 World Cup campaign thus far. She led the team to a convincing 31-run victory in their opening match against Sri Lanka but witnessed a six-wicket defeat to India in their subsequent encounter. With crucial matches against Australia and New Zealand still to be played, Pakistan must now press forward without their biggest trump card. The responsibility of steering the team through this emotional and competitively challenging period falls upon the shoulders of wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali.
In her first media interaction as Pakistan captain, Muneeba acknowledged the loss of Fatima, stating, “Fatima is our captain and the qualities she possesses in batting and bowling are very good and she gives our team a good balance. We will miss her as a captain and as a player, but we will try to win the match for her and her father.”
Following their victory against Sri Lanka, a performance that earned Fatima the Player of the Match award, she had spoken about instilling a sense of bravery and confidence in her team to overcome the imposter syndrome they sometimes experience when facing more established teams. Muneeba will undoubtedly draw upon these ideals as she leads her team against the reigning world champions, Australia, on Friday.
“We have come here to win the match and that’s what we will focus on,” Muneeba stated with unwavering determination.
The odds are stacked against Pakistan as they face the formidable Australian side. In 16 previous T20I encounters, Australia remains unbeaten against Pakistan, and Alyssa Healy’s team will be confident in extending that streak. Muneeba and her squad understand that the tournament must continue, and Pakistan’s survival in the World Cup hinges on a combination of tactical acumen and a bit of luck.
To advance, Pakistan needs to find a way to improve their batting performance in the challenging conditions of Dubai. Muneeba has the opportunity to set the tone with the bat. She boasts the highest aggregate in Pakistan’s T20I squad this season, with 560 runs in 23 innings. However, her contributions in the World Cup so far have been modest, with scores of 11 (against Sri Lanka) and 17 (against India).
“We have played more matches in Dubai and there is a little bounce and pace which is more beneficial. But the dimensions of the ground are very big here, which is why it is not easy to hit big shots. The trend for evening games, by and large, has been to win the toss and bat as chasing has progressively gotten a bit harder with the ball getting more movement off the pitch.
“We want to score runs and set a platform for the team to score big runs. This was missing in the last two matches. That applies to me too. I hope I can score more,” she expressed.
Fatima, prior to their match against India, had emphasized the need for Pakistan to improve their power-hitting capabilities to compete with the tournament’s top teams. Despite a comprehensive defeat to India, the 16,000 fans in attendance witnessed the unwavering fighting spirit of Pakistan. Fatima delivered crucial contributions with both bat and ball, taking two wickets in the late stages and making a valuable contribution with the bat. The team’s fielding was relentless, keeping the pressure on India until the final ball.
“That match was very important for us. And if you look at it, it was also very important for the opposition. It was a bit difficult for us as it was not easy to score runs on that wicket. Even scoring 100 runs was not easy, and they scored at the end of the match.
“We spoke about that, and our attitude. Whether we score low or high, we want to keep the same approach till the end, not to give up and fight till the last ball,” Fatima remarked.
Low totals will not suffice against the powerful Australian batting lineup. “Anything above 140 will be a good score on this wicket. That kind of score will give us a good chance to win,” suggested Muneeba.
Pakistan’s spinners have been particularly effective in recent outings, and Sadia Iqbal and Nashra Sandhu will be looking to continue their good form against Australia. “Sadia has been a key member of the side for the last 1.5 years, and Nashra’s support in the middle overs is sometimes overlooked. We know that they are very important for us and they have broken partnerships for us in difficult matches. We know that on their day, they will come good for us,” said Muneeba.
